One week ago

I had been working out like a fiend. I felt good about my workouts. I felt great about myself. I was toned and trim. My body felt nice and tight.

One week ago, I was really happy with myself -- that elusive, all-too-infrequent happiness about how I looked and felt.

And then I got sick.

And skipped not one, not two, not three, but FOUR days of workouts. In a row.

And now I feel squishy. Soft. Lethargic and lazy. Yuck.

Back to square one, I guess. Starting tomorrow.

Ice skating in Central Park

If you have not done this, get to NYC immediately and do it. It's worth the money. It's worth the crowd. It's worth the anxiety about falling and making a fool of yourself. Skating in Central Park was even more fun than I could have imagined.

As you're skating, this is your view. This is your view, people!!!!!

One of the highlights for me was skating around on a beautiful, clear, cold day with the skyline of New York above me and U2's "The Sweetest Thing" playing on the loudspeakers. It really doesn't get better than that.

By the time we were done, it was starting to get dark. Next time (and there will be a next time), I'm definitely staying until nightfall and skating under the stars.

I am, quite possibly, the biggest goober in America

Trust me. The race pics will support this theory.

Sunday was the Icicle Run, a popular 10-miler in my town. This year, it definitely lived up to its name. At race time, it was 22 degrees with a wind chill of 11! Toward the end of the race, I touched my ponytail and discovered that it was FROZEN SOLID. My hair was a solid chunk. What the ????

I have to say that I really, really like the 10 mile distance. It's long enough that you can go nice and slow (hahaha) but short enough that training for it doesn't take over your whole life. Anyway, a few friends and I decided we would do it but NOT race it. As Andrea said, it was a long run with a bib.

We convinced another woman, T, to run it with us. She spent 8 of the past 12 months dealing with pretty significant injuries (terrible knee problems followed by a stress fracture in her other leg), so she was worried about finishing. Within the first 2 miles, we split into two groups with me keeping T company just a little way behind the others. She told me repeatedly to go on ahead and catch up with our other friends, but I was happy to run with her at a slightly slower pace (they finished 3 minutes ahead of us, so it wasn't like we were that far behind) and keep her company. After all, we talked her into it; it wouldn't have been fair to leave her behind. That's the way I see it, anyway.

So we ran and talked and ran and talked. I didn't know her well, and it was really great getting to know her over the course of the run. We saw our husbands in mile 6, climbed hills, battled cramps (me) and fatigue (her), saw my husband and his daughter again in mile 8, and generally had a great time.

The most fun was when we saw the photographer, who happened to be a good friend of mine. Believe me when I tell you I hammed it up for the camera. Well, actually, just see for yourself.

As I said, T wasn't convinced she could do the whole 10 miles. Her longest run in a year prior to this race was 6 miles (and the doctors told her she'd never run more than 4 or 5 miles after her injury). She told me during the race that she figured she'd be around 1:40 IF she was able to finish. I am pleased to tell you that we finished together in 1:36:36. Woo hoo!

One more pic... My hubby D, his daughter, and our friend D (the photographer's son, who happened to be celebrating his 16th birthday that day!) who kicked butt with a 1:10:01 in the race having never run farther than 5K prior to this!

Many thanks to D, my stepdaughter, and the many spectators and volunteers who braved the cold to cheer us on.

My first race in..... 6 months????

Have I really not raced in six months? How can that be?

I realized this morning that the last race I did was my Olympic tri on July 24. Wow! Since I started racing in 2005, I don't think there's ever been a period of time that long between races.

Well, the slump ends this weekend. Icicle Run 10-miler on Sunday! The last time I raced, the temps were well into the 90s by the time I was done. This Sunday, I'll be lucky if it's in the 30s! Haha!

I am really looking forward to this one. Cool, crisp temperature, challenging hilly course, and great company (my friends and I are running together just for fun, not to race it). Sounds like a good Sunday morning to me!

Is your New Year's resolution to join a gym?

If so, read this! Actually, read it no matter what. It's funny. :)

Thanks to my friend Margo for sending it to me. #25 was my personal favorite. And #27 is the big secret that the informercials don't want you to know. It's that simple, folks. Move it and make good food choices.

I need a new hairdo - now with photos!

Any suggestions?

Background: I have wavy hair and very little of it. Seriously, I have approximately 8 hairs on my entire head. I've counted. It didn't take long.

I'm also very lazy, so anything high maintenance (hair dryers and straight irons and mousse, oh my!) will likely annoy me. This is why I've been stuck in this wavy long unflattering rut for so long. I wash it, put in some leave-in conditioner, comb it, and basically do nothing to it until it's dry, when I fluff it with my fingers. Until it goes into a ponytail, which it inevitably does at some point.

Bo-ring.

Plus I don't exactly have a face for short hair. I would give anything to be able to do Halle Barry's cute crop, but alas I would probably scare small children away.

So. Who has a fabulous, flattering, cute, easy hairstyle for me to try? Remember, no muss no fuss AND I have to be able to get it off my face somehow when I work out (hats, bandanas, headbands are acceptable). Other than those basic rules, I'm open to suggestions.

Edited to add two photos I found. I would love to do Victoria Beckham's husband hairdo! Hairdo! Not sure I would be willing to invest the time it would require, though. The Lily Allen one is super cute, but again would it require a great deal of time in the morning?